I'm a Bay of Fundy Boy
As we say in the Maritimes
"I've Come home"
Read my book and you'll discover that I appreciate and know what "living life to the fullest " is all about
Doing well!
Doing Good!
Making a Contribution!
My Encore
- I've done well in my career. I'm financially secure.
- I've done good. I engaged in active community living in NOCs by serving on condo boards in Toronto and a "55"+community in Guelph. I was a "snow bird" for elven years in active retirement communities (ARCs) in Florida and Arizona. I created a "best in class" bocce court in Florida and was president of an innovative hiking club in Arizona
- I've "come home" to the St. Andrews the heritage heartland of Canada on the Bay of Fundy to make a contribution
My Contribution
- "Health is Wealth" in the post COVID 19 socio-economic environment. University of New Brunswick -Saint John (UNBSJ)has recently launched Canada's inaugural holistic "Baccalaureate of Health" degree program. My book recounts how I developed a leading edge counselling/mentoring program to enable university students interested in acquiring graduate professional degrees in law and law related disciplines to identify their passion and link it to a graduate degree program. Graduate health degree programs in the holistic health sector were the most frequently identified programs for students as prospective prospective careers as alternatives to law. I've taken on the mission to make a contribution and add value to emergent career paths in holistic health by adapting my innovative counselling/mentoring program for UNBSJ health program students and prospective applicants.
- I'm a member of the Saint Andrews Heritage By-law committee. I intend to utilize my legal knowledge and experiences in active community living to contribute to the adaptation of heritage in one of Canada's idyllic heritage NOCs with its vibrant tourism economy to its evolution in a contemporary context.
The New You
- You've done well. You've had a successful career and are financially secure.
- You've done good. You've led a good life.
- It’s an ideal time to make a contribution. You’re now positioned to exit what you’ve done well at in your career and give something back to your community.
Your Contribution
- It might entail making a reality of that dream you always had when you were young just tucked away while you pursued. Your now in a position to “ignite that passion” and make that dream a reality.
- That reality can be embarking on an encore career and making a go of a business you always knew there was a need for in the community but nobody seemed to care to take the time and effort to get on it.
- You have the where withal to make it happen.
- Or this could be that once in your lifetime opportunity to volunteer with a charity or non-governmental organization (NGO) that you’ve been donating to but will now get a value add with your expertise
Active Retirement Communities
ARCs
ARCs
Active Retirement Communities (ARCs) are developer driven real estate developments. The developer purchases the land and builds a residential community. They often maintain an ongoing financial interest in the community through a land lease and/or grounds maintenance contract. Unlike generic retirement communities ARCs are activity theme focused. Golf, skiing, boating, tennis and hiking are popular themes. In addition to the central marketing theme a fully functional ARC will have a recreation centre with a pool, exercise facility and games and activities room. This requires a prospective resident to look beyond the quality and convenience criteria when looking for a retirement residence and factor in the activity that most appeals to them as well as recognizing the ongoing cost of living that will be incurred through a residential activity charge. A preferred active leisure life is the driver in assessing the choice or community and affordability is an ancillary consideration.
ARCs are age restrictive. They are frequently marketed as "55+" communities. At least one of the residents must meet the age restriction. ARCs are not designed to be family friendly. The number of people permitted to reside in a residence is usually restricted to a couple with allowances for requests for an exemption for a specified period to care for a family member such as an elderly parent in need of personal care. ARCs are not family friendly. They usually prohibit children residing in the community and have restrictions in place to limit holiday visitations by grandchildren.
ARCs are designed to enable retirees to live active leisure lives in an environment surrounded by other retirees. ARCs comply with regulatory requirements to accommodate persons with disabilities. Grounds and facilities comply with "age friendly" criteria and are barrier free. Residents are permitted to privately contract with private health care providers for health services but not full time care and they must be capable to live independently.
Residents are prohibited from operating a business within the community.
Del Webb an American real estate developer is credited with pioneering the development of the contemporary North American ARC model with the creation of Sun City in Phoenix/Scottsdale Arizona in 1960. A local newspaper add attracted 100,000 visitors on the opening weekend. The overwhelming positive response and the construction of 2,000 ARC homes within the first year, which quickly ballooned into an ARC with a population of 40,000 and a waiting list, ignited a phenomenon for ARC development across the U.S. with a strong presence in southern U.S. states. I had the opportunity to visit the Sun City Memorial Museum in the community. It was a learning experience that was of value to me as an ARC resident and board member in an advisory capacity in a Canadian ARC.
Arbutus Ridge on Vancouver Island was the first Canadian ARC. It was established in 1987 as an ARC golf community. The emergence of boomers into dominance as the inaugural generation of "young/olds (YOLDS)" with expectations of living active lives well into their 80s has spawned the development of a growing number of ARCs across the country in the past decade.
Snowbird ARCs
Many Canadians have been introduced to ARCs through their snowbird sojourns in Florida and Arizona. It's not unusual to have a population of 40%-50% Canadian in what Canadians fondly call their "winter haven".
Caution!
Look before you leap into an ARC
There can be downsides to living in ARCs. According to research by Harvard Law professor Cass Sunstein, "people who surround themselves by like-minded people are more likely to become more extreme in their views. Sunstein observed increasing polarization in the United States in "ideologically-homogeneous communities" where groups composed of exclusively like-minded people isolate themselves from the wider, mainstream community and have limited exposure to alternative viewpoints. Carle also noted that residents in ARCs can get burnt out with their life centred around what was once a favourite hobby.
Next Step
Go to the "Ignite Your Passion" page on this web site. Discover why my book Meaningful Memories is a must read. Give it a read and then retain me, John Kelly as your "Sherpa Guide" I've "lived life to the fullest" in ARCs in Florida, Arizona and Ontario.
